Browsing by Author "Huilinir, Cesar"

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    Elimination of sulfamethoxazole by anodic oxidation using mixed metal oxide anodes
    (2023) Lauzurique, Yeney; Miralles-Cuevas, Sara; Godoy, Mariel; Sepulveda, Pamela; Bollo, Soledad; Cabrera-Reina, Alejandro; Huilinir, Cesar; Malato, Sixto; Oller, Isabel; Salazar-Gonzalez, Ricardo
    The degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was studied by anodic oxidation (AO) process using mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes with different Ru/Ir ratios. Each electrode was characterized morphological and electrochemically. The electrolyzes were performed in NaCl and Na2SO4 applying two current densities (10 and 50 mA cm-2). The electrode with the highest composition of Ir, Ru/Ir (30/70), showed greater SMX degradation and generation of oxidizing species and was used to treat the antibiotic by AO and AO assisted by solar energy in natural water and actual municipal wastewater effluents.The efficiency in SMX degradation depends on the type of electrode used (MMO) and electrolytic medium. All MMO electrodes, reached almost total degradation of SMX in chloride medium. However, 60 % degradation of SMX in sulfate medium was achieved with anode with lower Ru/Ir ratio. Additionally, degradation of SMX in complex matrices can be successfully carried out by solar-assisted AO and AO processes, without the need to adjust the pH, at room temperature and using anode with lower Ru/Ir ratio. Finally, the AO process assisted by solar energy reduced electrolysis times and the cell's potential, leading to lower energy consumption.
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    Enhanced methane production from protein and lipid-rich wastewater using powdered oat husk-biochar
    (2024) Pages-Diaz, Jhosane; Vidal, Ivan; Huilinir, Cesar; Hernandez-Velez, Leslie; Lorenzo-Llanes, Junior
    BACKGROUNDDue to the lower degradation and the potential inhibitory compounds present in slaughterhouse wastewater (SW), its industrial applications are often limited to methane production. This study investigated the combined effect of conductive material such as oat husk-biochar at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 g L-1) and particle sizes (i.e., Powder Biochar (PB) (0.05-0.08 mm) vs. Granular Biochar (GB) (0.8-1.0 mm)) in the methane production, biodegradability, kinetic parameters, methanogenic activity and digestate quality of SW, using a multilevel factorial design.RESULTSExperimental results showed that lower concentration (5, 10 g L-1) increased the methane yield up to 35% for PB and between 11 and 13% for GB compared to the control reactor. The total ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations in the digestate declined between 14% and 52% for all biochar dosages and particle sizes. PB improved the specific methanogenic activity of the biomass compared with GB, indicating that PB can support a well-balanced methanogenic community compared with GB inside the digester. The multiple response optimization process computed that 7.5 g L-1 of PB is optimal to increase the methane yield, the COD degradation efficiency and shorten the lag phase. On the other hand, doses higher than 15 g L-1 hinder methane generation.CONCLUSIONSPB supplementation has significant potential to improve the anaerobic degradation of SW. The improvement is attributed to the higher specific surface area, contributing to better support and microbial activity. (c) 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
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    Evaluation of the anaerobic digestion of winery wastewater: Effect of fly ash in anaerobic sequencing batch reactor
    (2023) Lauzurique, Yeney; Meza, Ariel; Huilinir, Cesar; Salazar-Gonzalez, Ricardo; Vargas-Morales, Gustavo
    The addition of fly ash (FA) to an anaerobic reactor has been studied mainly in batch tests. Nevertheless, the FA effect on the continuous operation of an anaerobic bioreactor has not been addressed. Therefore, the present work shows the effect of FA on the continuous operation of anaerobic sequencing reactors (ASBRs) treating winery wastewater. Two ASBRs were used and operated continuously for 302 days under mesophilic conditions with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 days. The effect of the organic loading rate (ORL) on the operation was investigated for 204 days. After that, to evaluate the effect of FA as an anaerobic digestion (AD) enhancer, one of the reactors was dosed with 25 mg L-1 of FA for 98 days. The FA dosages allowed an increase in methane production and organic matter removal by 75% and 42%, respectively, concerning the system without FA. Furthermore, the importance of FA in the process was demonstrated by obtaining a yield of 334 NmL CH4 COD removed-1. This result represented a 12% increase compared to the yield previously obtained in the same reactor before adding the FA. Additionally, acetic acid and propionic acid were the predominant volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the process. Finally, the metals present in the digested sludge after FA addition did not exceed the limits allowed by Chilean legislation.
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    Removal of Ibuprofen and Diclofenac in Batch Nitrifying Reactors: Effect of Natural Zeolite on the Process
    (2023) Escobar, Jenny; Hernandez, Leslie; Gonzalez, Jorge Leiva; Salazar-Gonzalez, Ricardo; Calzadilla, Wendy; Guerrero, Lorna; Escalona, Nestor; Huilinir, Cesar
    Ibuprofen (IBP) and diclofenac (DFC) are two of the most commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat inflammation and pain. However, they can impact the environment if not treated adequately before discharge into waterways. Biodegradation through the nitrification process is an alternative to reducing the concentration of these micropollutants (MPs) in wastewater. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of natural zeolite on IBP and DFC removal in a nitrifying batch reactor. Mini-reactors were set up with 90 mL of inoculum and 110 mL of synthetic wastewater with a concentration of 25 mg total ammonia nitrogen TAN/L, at 25 & DEG;C and 1 vvm (volume of air/volume liquid & BULL;min) of aeration. Two conditions were tested: high concentrations (IBP = 700 & mu;g/L, DFC = 100 & mu;g/L) and low concentrations (IBP = 30 & mu;g/L, DFC = 20 & mu;g/L). The research used a concentration of 5 g/L of the natural zeolite. Results indicated that the zeolite negatively affected the nitrification rate. At high MPs concentration, the natural zeolite negatively affects the removal of IBP and DFC, where biodegradation and sorption are the mechanisms that eliminate both NSAIDs. Conversely, at low DFC and IBP concentrations, the natural zeolite improves the removal of IBP and DFC, wherein biodegradation is the primary removal mechanism.